Commentary

Pay TV Subscribers Down In Every Category

The Leichtman Research Group found that the largest pay-TV providers in the U.S., representing about 95% of the market, lost about 305,000 net video subscribers in 1Q 2018, compared to a pro forma loss of about 515,000 subscribers in 1Q 2017. 

The top pay-TV providers now account for about 91.9 million subscribers – with the top six cable companies having 47.8 million video subscribers, satellite TV services 31.1 million subscribers, the top telephone companies 9.2 million subscribers, and the top Internet-delivered pay-TV services 3.8 million subscribers. 

Key findings for the quarter include: 

  • The top six cable companies lost about 285,000 video subscribers in 1Q 2018 – compared to a loss about 115,000 subscribers in 1Q 2017
  • The top telephone providers lost about 50,000 video subscribers in 1Q 2018 – compared to a loss of 325,000 subscribers in 1Q 2017
  • AT&T U-verse did not report net video losses for the first time since 1Q 2015
  • Internet-delivered services (Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW) added about 405,000 subscribers in 1Q 2018 – compared to about 265,000 net adds in 1Q 2017
  • Traditional pay-TV services (not including Internet-delivered services) lost about 710,000 subscribers in 1Q 2018 – compared to a loss of about 780,000 in 1Q 2017

The number of pay-TV subscribers for the top providers peaked six years ago, says the report. Since 1Q 2012, top providers have lost about 3.4 million total pay-TV subscribers. Since the industry’s peak, traditional services have lost about 7.2 million subscribers, while the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered services gained about 3.8 million subscribers.

1 comment about "Pay TV Subscribers Down In Every Category".
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  1. Walter Sabo from SABO media, July 24, 2018 at 8:16 a.m.

    The reason is simple. Customers cannot wait to dump their cable because of their HORRIBLE, CRIMINAL CUSTOMER "SERVICE" We all hate our cable companies. They deserve to die.

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